Masonry joint



Dec. 20, 1932. P. c. OLSEN 1,891,724

MASONRY JOINT Filed May 23, 1930 IN V EN TOR.

PETER c. OLSEJ}! ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v PETER C. OLSEN, OFPERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO FEDERAL SEABOARD TERRA GOTTACORPORATION, JERSEY OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW MASONRYJOINT Application filed May 23,

This invention relates to exterior terra cotta wall construction exposedto all conditions of weather, more particularly sills, copings,spandrels, cornices and other architectural features embodied in a wall.Terra cotta is manufactured in blocks from clay and coated with a glazeor impervious surface that will repel water. Consequently the onlyportions in a terra cotta construction not so protected against rainpenetration are the joints between the blocks. It frequently happensthat the cement mortar mixtures used in a joint is faulty or the mortarmay be improperly applied and as a consequence the joint fails toprevent entrance of water. This failure of the oints constitutes aserious defect in terra cotta construction, for seepage through thejoints results in corrosion of the iron supporting structure or maycause damage to the interior plastering.

The present invention insures against leakage or seepage through faultyjoints. It consists in providing a joint with a seepage bar extendingfrom one block to an adjacent block and preferably disposed in such amanner that any water which may penetrate as far as the bar drains backto the exterior. The bar is sealed or anchored to each adjacent block byproviding a groove in each block into which the bar extends and the baris secured in place by a filling of cement or other suitable mortar. Thebar may be of any suitable material as metal or metal composition butgalvanized sheet iron has been found satisfactory for the purpose.

For a better and more complete understanding of the invention attentionis directed to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an elevationof a portion of a spandrel composed of terra cotta blocks;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

The spandrel portion selected for illustrat ing the invention comprisesthe sill blocks 11, 12, header blocks 13, 14 and intermediate blocks 15.16. The contiguous edges 17, 18 of a pair of blocks are provided withgrooves 19, 20. A seepage bar 21 of galvanized iron or 1930. Serial No.454,970.

other suitable material extends into each of these grooves. The bar isheld in place and a tight ointsecured by filling the remaining.

space in the grooves by cement mortar 22. In practice it is preferred toanchor the bar to one of the blocks by mortar before assembling andapply mortar to the other groove and the joint between the blocks whenthe blocks are placed in position.

The grooves and bars can be disposed in q any suitable manner but a.function in addition to that of preventing ingress of moisture throughthe joint is obtained by so locating them that a lower end is disposedforward of an upper end; this causes any water that may penetrate to abar-to be carried outward to the exterior in its seepage down the barand thereby protects aswell the underlying horizontal jointbetweencourses. ment is illustrated in Fig. 2.

WVhile the invention is here specifically disclosed with relation toterra cotta, it finds application to other masonry construction such ascast concrete, cast stone, stone, etc.

I claim:

1. A Wall construction comprising adj a- The arrangecently disposedblocks of terra cotta, a groove 7 in each of the contiguous verticalfaces ofsaid blocks, said grooves being in substantial alignment andinclined with respect to the exterior exposed faces of the blocks, ametallic bar extending into each of said grooves, and means for sealingthe bar in each

